A COUNCIL's benefits service is among the best run in the country according to a watchdog report.

Medway Council received a excellent grading in the latest round of the Government's Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA), carried out by the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate (BFI).

Medway's achievement was part of a UK-wide assessment of benefits services in 115 unitary local authorities.

This year's rating, is an improvement on that of 2006 for the Medway Revenues & Benefits Service (MRBS) and the Benefits Fraud Team, when they were found to be "good".

MRBS deals with housing and council tax benefit claims, assessment and payment. The Benefits Fraud Team investigates and prosecutes fraudulent claims.

The inspectors took into account such aspects as assessment of benefit claims, provision of advice to applicants, the recovery of overpayments of benefit, and the investigation of benefits fraud.

Deputy leader and portfolio holder for finance, Cllr Alan Jarrett, said: "This is good news for Medway residents, proving that they are receiving a high quality service for the assessment and provision of housing and council tax benefits.

"It also means that we have superb procedures for clamping down on any fraudulent claims, ensuring that public funds are not lost in this way.

"This excellent rating is a tribute to our MRBS staff, who have worked hard in many ways to achieve this well-deserved accolade."

CPA was introduced in 2002 as a process for inspecting and reviewing the performance of councils, and their arrangements for improving services to local people.

It can examine specific council services as well as an authority’s overall performance. Overall, Medway is currently rated as a "good" council.